The FuturicT Knowledge Accelerator's stated purpose is to learn more about the social interactions of man and how to harness that knowledge in developing innovative ways to deal with the myriad problems facing humanity.
The need of a socio-economic knowledge collider was first pointed out in the OECD Global Science Forum on Applications of Complexity Science for Public Policy in Erice from October 5 to 7, 2008. Since then, many scientists have called for a large-scale ICT-based research initiative on techno-social-economic-environmental issues, sometimes phrased as a Manhattan-, Apollo-, or CERN-like project to study the way our living planet works in a social dimension. Due to the connotations, we use the term knowledge accelerator, here. An organizational concept for the establishment of a knowledge accelerator is currently being sketched within the EU Support Action VISIONEER, see www.visioneer.ethz.ch. The EU Flagship initiative is exactly the right instrument to materialize this concept and thereby tackle the global challenges for mankind in the 21st century.
Because the web has eliminated the tower of babel nightmare of incompatible file formats and data transport protocols and systems can process and manipulate vast amounts of data (video, image, sound & text) with relative ease, the ability to actually undertake such a vast enterprise becomes possible. Click on the graphic below to view (& interact with) the various technologies and disciplines Visioneer intends to use to not only better understand how man operates as a social being but also to see how these tools can be leveraged to improve man's lot on planet earth.
Click here to download the PDF to learn why FuturicT has "legs". Another reason why I like this project is the fact anyone can join and contribute instantaneously via their wiki, something pretty awesome I must say. I joined up before writing this post.
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery." - James Joyce
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